Your $100,000 marketing expert is killing your company
Last year the New Mexico State Fair (in Albuquerque) had Vanessa Hudgens, Eric Burdon, War (separate nights) and the Gin Blossoms. This year the fair starts Sept. 11 and features Montgomery Gentry, Huey Lewis and the News (last hit 1982?), .38 Special (last hit 1974?), Diamond Rio and Julianne Hough. Looks like this year’s entertainment committee is paying to keep customers away. Compare Vanessa Hudgens to Diamond Rio. That’s like comparing Lady GaGa to Weird Al.
It really can’t get any worse in Arizona, The state fair, where I’ve seen The Doors, Jimi Hendrix at his prime, and other great acts, has continued its downward spiral. Last year the Arizona State Fair offered Blake Shelton, Goo Goo Dolls, Larry the Cable Guy, Club Nouveau and Timex Social Club. You’ve heard of all those, right?
It gets better this year – right. David Cook and Kelly Clarkson. Makes the hair on the back of your neck stand on end for the entertainment value, right? You always wanted to see the losers American Idol cranks out – starting with the first and continuing to last year. It could be worse. They could have included Adam Lambert , Daughtry and Taylor Hicks to the schedule! Compare American Idol to Disney – Miley Cyrus, Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato; quality, not quantity.
The Arizona State Fair has thrown in The Black Crowes and Abba (they’re still touring ? That will probably be the best show.). Oh, sorry, it’s Abba the music, probably performed by American Idiot losers.
Here’s entertainers NOT performing at the Arizona State Fair, but arriving about the same time – Pink, U2, Miley Cyrus, Jonas Brothers, Incubus, Green Day, Creed and AC/DC if you want to include them.
Here’s whose NOT performing at the New Mexico State Fair, but around the same time, Britney Spears (El Paso), Blink 182, Fall Out Boy, Marilyn Manson, Better than Ezra, Method Man and Judas Priest.
So can someone explain to me how state fairs keep marketing directors making about $100,000 per year in salary? The ones in New Mexico and Arizona seem to be driving customers away. I have approached the Arizona State Fair in years past, but they didn’t need any marketing experts – they were the experts. Yeah, right.
How much do the acts you say they should book cost compared to the what they are spending? Do the acts you say they should book even play fairs?
ReplyDeleteAfter 3 years of Taylor Hicks slams, it's good to find some body who realizes that Chris Daughtry is every bit as big a joke. You can add Lambert in the mix, too.
ReplyDeleteDear Anony:
ReplyDeleteTell me one thing on American Idiot that isn’t a joke – Ryan Seabiscuit, people believing that is Simon Cowell’s REAL hair. The $15-million he is making this year. That Carrie Underwood lost and she’s the only one to have sustainable record sales? That Clear Channel morning shows from coast to coast hype this show and there’s NO connection there. Yet EVERY Clear Channel station LOVES this show. No payola in main stream radio, right? The biggest joke is it’s the nation’s #1 entertainment venue in the U.S. What does that say about us when our favorite influence is American Idiot?